Transparency display apparatus



Oct. 27, 1970 P. E. KITCH 3,536,393

TRANSPARENCY DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l8JNVENTOR. H PAUL E. KITCH ATTORNEY.

P.E.KITCH TRANSPARENCY DISPLAY APPARATUS Oct. 27; 19170 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed um 24,1967

INVEN'IbR. PAUL E.K|T CH BY ATTIORNEY.

United States Pate F 3,536,393 TRANSPARENCY DISPLAY APPARATUS Paul E.Kitch, West Springfield, Mass., assignor to Scott Paper Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 24, 1967,Ser. No. 625,841 Int. Cl. G03b 21/00 US. Cl. 353120 4 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Transparency display apparatus is disclosed including atransparency storage device for protecting transparencies duringtransport and for facilitating display of transparencies upon anoverhead projector and a staging assembly mountable on the stage of anoverhead projector and cooperating with the storage device fortransparency display. The storage device is separable from the stagingassembly during transport of the transparencies and is constructed in amanner which fully protects the transparencies by providing covers andsides which form a package for holding the transparencies. When utilizedfor displaying transparencies, the storage device may be opened up andthe covers pivoted out of place into a position where they supporttransparencies before and after display. The staging assembly includesfastener means which cooperate with fasteners on the storage device sothat the storage device is supported while the transparencies are beingdisplayed. The staging assembly has a transparent panel positioned abovea light source and relative to the storage device so that transparenciescarried in the storage device can be pivoted about their point ofattachment to the storage device for selective display over thetransparent panel on the overhead projector. The staging assembly alsoincludes supports adjacent the transparent panel for supporting thecovers of the storage device in a position where transparencies can becollected and disposed upon one of them before and after display.Individual transparencies retained in the apparatus may be moved aboutan axis lying in the plane of the transparency as well as about an axisintersect ing the plane of the transparency, generally one perpendicularthereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to improvements in transparency display apparatus and, moreparticularly, to a transparency storage device and to display apparatusincluding a transparency storage device and a staging assembly.

Description of the prior art In the past, a number of systems have beenproposed for providing transparencies in the form of a booklet or otherarrangement which would allow their display on an overhead projector.Due to the manner in which such booklets are constructed, it is notpossible to conveniently handle the transparencies so that certaintransparencies of the group can be selectively displayed out of theorder in which they appear in the booklet. Other systems for handlingand storing transparencies which allow their selective display on anoverhead projector involve devices which are not convenient to transportand store the 3,536,393 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 transparencies betweenviewings. For example, many of these types necessitate the separatehandling of individual transparencies which are not fastened together inan integral package.

One type of transparency display apparatus is disclosed in UJS. Pat. N0.3,253,358, issued May 31, 1966 to I. S. Wright. One of the shortcomingsof the apparatus disclosed therein is the inability to convenientlyalter the order in which individual transparencies in the booklet aredisplayed. Another type of apparatus for handling transparencies isdisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,264,936, issued Aug. 9, 1966 to B. V.Schultz et a1. While the apparatus disclosed in this patent allows theorder in which the transparencies are displayed to be varied, theapparatus does not securely retain the transparencies in an integralgroup. Rather they are gathered together and placed loosely in a pocketfrom which they are removed for display on the stage of a projector.

A still further embodiment of apparatus of this type is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,279,109, issued Oct. 18, 1966, to W. Whittum. Thisapparatus provides no means for protecting the transparencies duringtransport and has the further shortcoming of attaching thetransparencies to one another in a manner which prevents their selectivedisplay in a convenient manner.

In apparatus of this type, it is believed to be desirable to providesome means to retain the transparencies in a protected condition in anintegral group for storage and transport. Generally, such transparenciesshould 'be arranged and contained in integral packages or groups whenthey are used to cover a certain subject, as in their use as teachingaids. It is generally preferred that they be kept in a predeterminedsequential order. It is also important that some means be provided forregistering one transparency relative to another during viewing when itis desired to progressively build up an image by superimposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is transparency displayapparatus which includes a transparency storage device and a stagingassembly. The transparency storage device facilitates the transport andstorage of transparencies when they are not 'being displayed and alsofacilitates the display of such transparencies on an overhead projectorin a manner which is much more convenient and flexible than was possiblein the past. The transparency display apparatus of the inventionincludes a staging assembly portion which is adapted to be positionedabove the light source on an overhead projector. The transparencystorage device is arranged for attachment to the staging assembly in amanner which facilitates display of transparencies on the overheadprojector.

Thus, means are provided on the staging assembly to cooperativelysupport the covers of the storage device after it is opened and arrangedfor display. Transparencies carried in the storage device can be pivotedabout their point of attachment to the storage device and selectivelyplaced either in a position on the staging assembly in Which they forman image which is projected on a screen by the overhead projector or ina position of rest on one of the covers of the storage device. With thisarrangement, the order of the transparencies is maintained and thetransparencies are kept in a single group but the order of display onthe overhead projector may be altered at the wish of the operator.

It is an object and advantage of the invention to provide transparencydisplay apparatus including a transparency storage device and a stagingassembly which facilitates the display of transparencies upon anoverhead projector.

It is an additional object and advantage of the invention to provide anew and improved transparency storage device adapted to protecttransparencies during transport and storage and to facilitate theirdisplay upon an overhead projector.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are provided bytransparency display apparatus including a staging assembly having atransparent panel adapted to be positioned over the light source of anoverhead projector. The panel includes alignment means along at least aportion of its periphery which serve to register transparencies disposedthereon in superimposing relationship by edge contact with thetransparencies. The transparent panel also includes support meansextending from the peripheral sides of the panel which serve to supportthe covers of a transparency storage device, to be described, when thedevice is opened for display purposes. Attachment means are provided onthe support means to releasably secure the transparency storage devicethereto by engagement with one cover-thereof.

The transparency storage device has a top cover and a bottom cover whichare disposed in superimposed spaced relationship. First fastener meansare provided for securing the top cover to the bottom cover at a pointperipherally spaced from the first fastener means. In some embodiments,the storage device includes second fastener means for releasablysecuring the top cover to the bottom cover at at least one point aboutthe periphery of the bottom cover. The first fastener means are adaptedto secure the top cover to the bottom cover while the top cover isoverturned and moved out of superimposed relationship with the bottomcover when the second fastener means are released. The transparenciesare secured in the storage device by the first fastener means in amanner permitting the transparencies to be overturned, selectivelydisplayed on the staging assembly, and pivoted into a position of reston the top cover when it is in its overturned position. That is, thefirst fastener means is of a type permitting the movement of the topcover and each of the transparencies about an axis lying in the plane ofthe transparency as well as about an axis intersecting the plane of thetransparency, preferably perpendicular thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom covers have flangesdepending inwardly toward the space between the covers when the coversare arranged in superimposing relationship which assist in retaining thetransparencies within the storage device by restraining them frompivotal movement about the second fastener means. The flanges extend atleast partially along opposed portions of the periphery of the top andbottom covers on each side of the second fastener means. Correspondingportions of the depending flanges are of a height sufficient to overlapone another so as to enclose those portions of the periphery of thespace between the top and bottom covers.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings describedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of astaging assembly of the invention disposed upon the stage of an overheadprojector,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view through a portion ofthe staging assembly and a storage device attached thereto,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of transparency display DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows anoverhead projector, indicated generally by reference numeral 10.Projector 10 has a base portion 11 in which a light source 12 ismounted. Wires 13 and 14 connect light source 12 to a suitable source ofelectric current. Base portion 11 has a horizontal upper surface 15which comprises the stage of projector 10. Upper surface 15 has anopening 16 defined therein toward which light source 12 is directed. Asupport member 17 extends vertically upward from upper surface 15 ofbase portion 11. Support member 17 carries on its upper end a projectionunit 18. Projection unit 1 8 contains a mirror 20 arranged at an angleof 45 to the horizontal which alters the upward path of light from lightsource 12 and directs it toward a screen 19 spaced from projector 10. Alens assembly 21 is disposed in the path of light reflected by mirror 20and is adapted to focus light by movement of lenses contained therein toadjust and focus an image formed by the light on screen 19. Thus,projection unit 18 is adapted to direct light received from light source12 toward screen 19 and, when an image is formed by the light passingthrough a transparency disposed on upper surface 15, to focus the imageon screen 19.

A staging assembly of the invention, indicated generally by referencenumeral 22, is disposed upon the stage of projector 10 and generallyover opening 16 in upper surface 15. Staging assembly 22 includes apanel 23 having a central transparent portion 24 capable of transmittinglight received from light source 12 to mirror 20 and an outer frameportion 25 which supports the transparent portion 24. Transparentportion 24 is made of a transparent or translucent material such asplastic or glass. Frame portion 25 is preferably made of a relativelyrigid material such as metal, wood or plastic. Transparent portion 24corresponds generally in size and shape to opening 16 in upper surface15 and may be secured to frame portion 25 by adhesive. It may overlieinner marginal portions of frame portion 25 and, if relatively thick, ispreferably recessed into frame portion 25 as shown in FIG. 2 to form asmooth upper surface on transparent panel 23.

Staging assembly 22 includes support flanges 26 and 27 attached theretoby bolts 30 which extend laterally from two adjoining sides oftransparent panel 23. Support flanges 26 and 27 have a short downwardlyextending leg 28 beneath panel 23 and secured thereto and a longerlaterally depending leg 29, the lower surface of which rests on uppersurface 15 adjacent opening 16. This structure is shown clearly in FIG.2. These slightly elevate panel 23 above upper surface 15. The corner 31of transparent panel 23 opposite flanges 26 and 27 is supported aboveupper surface 15 by a support member 32. Support flange 26 contains twoupstanding pins 33 having radially enlarged heads 34 which cooperatewith keyshaped holes on one cover of the storage device of the inventionto form releasable attachment means which operate in a manner to bedescribed. A clamp member 35 extends laterally outwardly from panel 23above support flange 27 and serves to support the top cover of thestorage device when it is opened and overturned to provide a platformfor collecting transparencies after display. The free marginal edge ofthe cover is disposed between clamp member 35 and support flange 27 andis held in a cantilevered position by the clamp member 35 and thesupport flange 27 as shown in FIG. 4. Upstanding alignment flanges 36and 37 are disposed along two adjoining sides of panel 23 and serve astransparency alignment means for aligning transparencies relative to oneanother and to panel 23 in a manner to be described.

It should be clearly understood that the construction of stagingassembly 22 may be altered in many respects without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, panel 23, includingtransparent portion 24 and frame portion 25, might be made entirely of asingle piece of transparent material such as plastic or glass. Inaddition the manner of attaching support flanges 26 and 27 totransparent panel 23 might be substantially different from that shown inFIG. 2. Also, the alignment flanges 36 and 37 may be disposed arounddifferent peripheral portions and to a greater or lesser extent of theperiphery of panel 23. Moreover, the invention contemplates the displayof transparencies having a shape other than rectangular, such astriangular or even circular.

FIG. 3 illustrates a transparency storage device of the inventiondisposed in closed position and arranged for cooperative engagement withthe staging assembly shown in FIG. 1 and described above. The storagedevice, indicated generally by reference numeral 40, includes a topcover 41 and a bottom cover 42. To provide support for transparencieswhen held by support flanges 26 and 27 as de scribed above, the top andbottom covers 41 and 42 are preferably made of relatively stiffmaterials so that they have some beam strength and are capable ofsupporting at least the weight of a few transparencies in a cantileverarrangement. In instances where the upper surface or horizontal stage ofthe projector 10 is of suflicient area from the periphery of opening 16to the periphery of upper surface 15, the covers 41 and 42 may be ofmore flexible material since they may not be required to support weightin a cantilever manner during operation but rather may rest directly onupper surface 15. Also, other means for supporting covers 41 and 42might be provided.

In the closed position, top cover 41 is superimposed over bottom cover42. Bottom cover 42 has a strap 43 which extends upwardly and folds backonto the upper surface of top cover 41. Strap 43 has a snap fastenerelement 44 which engages a cooperative snap fastener element (not shown)secured to top cover 41 so that fastener means are provided forreleasably securing top cover 41 to bottom cover 42 at at least this onepoint about the periphery of bottom cover 42. A fastener element 45 inthe form of a hoop, the ends of which terminate and are releasablyattached as by threaded bolts to bottom cover 42, is disposed about theperiphery of bottom cover 42 at one end of the side opposite strap 43and extends upwardly from bottom cover 42. One leg of the hoop ofelement 45 passes through a hole in top cover 41. In this manner, topcover 41 is secured to bottom cover 42 at a point peripherally spacedfrom the point where strap 43 secures the covers together. The fastenerelement 45 is adapted to secure top cover 41 to bottom cover 42 whileallowing the top cover 41 to be overturned and moved out of superimposedrelationship with the bottom cover 42 when the second fastener means,that is, the snap fastener elements on strap 43 and top cover 41, arereleased. The nature of the movement permitted is illustrated by FIG. 4in which the storage device 40 is shown in its open position.

A plurality of transparencies 46 are disposed between the top and bottomcovers 41 and 42 and attached to the storage device 40 by fastenerelement 45, one leg of which passes through a hole in one corner of thetransparencies 46 as well as through top cover 41. In this manner,transparencies 46 may be overturned and moved out of superimposedrelationship with the bottom cover 42 in a manner similar to movement oftop cover 41 described above. To facilitate handling of top cover 41 andtransparencies 46 in the manner shown in FIG. 4, a pivot extension orflap 47 is preferably formed into or attached to each of top cover 41and transparencies 46 through which a leg of hoop-shaped fastenerelement passes to secure them together in the manner described above.This flap 47 allows the cover 41 and transparencies 46 to be moved aboutpanel 23 without interference between panel 23 and the side edgesthereof.

Top cover 41 and bottom cover 42 have flanges 50 and 51, respectively,extending along two opposed sides of the covers between the first andsecond fastener means and depending inwardly toward one another andtoward the space between the covers when the covers are arranged insuperimposing relationship and storage device 40 is in its closedposition. Flanges 50 and '51 preferably should extend at least partiallyalong opposed portions of the periphery of the top and bottom covers 41and 42 on each side of fastener means 45. For reasons presented below,the flanges should not extend along the portion of the periphery of thestorage device 40 adjacent staging assembly 22 during use. Correspondingportions of the depending flanges, that is, portions of flanges 50 and51 which oppose one another when storage device 40 is in the closedposition, preferably should have a height sufficient to overlap oneanother so as to enclose the periphery of the space between the top andbottom covers 41 and 42 along portions thereof where flanges 50 and 51overlap. Thus, the height of flanges 50 and 51 will vary depending uponthe number of transparencies 46 to be carried in the storage device 40and the desired thickness of storage device 40.

Bottom cover has key-shaped slots 52 disposed along one side adjacentfastener means 45. Key-shaped slots 52 are adapted to receive theenlarged heads 34 of pins 33 on support flange 26 at one end thereofand, upon lateral movement of storage device 40, key-shape slots 52cooperate with pins 33 and heads 34 to form a releasable attachmentmeans which releaseably attaches storage device 40 to staging assembly22. The manner in which this releasable attachment occurs is shownclearly in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

FIG. 4 shows the manner of operation of the transparency storage deviceand staging assembly of the invention. Strap 43 may be released and topcover 41 may be moved out of superimposing relationship with bottomcover 42 and overturned and pivoted about fastener element 45 into aposition of rest upon support flange 27 of staging assembly 22. It isheld in position by clamp member 35 over support flange 27. The topcover 41 serves as a cantilever support for carrying transparencies 46moved out of superimposing position with bottom cover 42 and onto topcover 41 after their display upon the staging assembly 22 of theinvention. Thus, one of the broader aspects of the invention is that thestorage device contains a plurality of transparencies 46 which areattached to the storage device 40' in a manner permitting movement ofindividual transparencies 46. about an axis lying in the plane of thetransparency as Well as about an axis intersecting the plane of thetransparency and preferably perpendicular thereto as in the embodimentsshown. If pivoted about an axis not perpendicular to the plane of thetransparency, the transparency must be flexed or bent slightly to permitthe required movement.

It can be seen that this arrangement allows the order of display oftransparencies on the staging assembly to be varied at the will of theoperator in that no prescribed order need be fol-lowed. Thosetranpsarencies 46 which are not to be shown are simply pivoted out ofposition and supported on top cover 41. Removal of transparencies 46being displayed on panel 23 before subsequent transparencies 46 areplaced on top cover 41 is not required which is a distinct advantage ofthe invention. However, the invention also maintains the transparencies46- in a predescribed order which is oftentimes desired.

The storage device 40- is adapted to be removed from the stagingassembly 22 of the invention and, upon closure of strap 43, forms abook-like unit which can be used to transport and store transparencies46 in a protected condition. In this respect the staging assembly 22 maybe used in conjunction with a large number of storage devices 40, eachof which contains a different set of transparencies 46.

The storage device 40 is most advantageously used in conjunction with astaging assembly 22 of the invention. However, its use is not restrictedin this respect and it can be used with a large variety of overheadprojectors and with other staging assemblies. In some instances it mightbe employed directly upon the upper surface 15 of the projector in whichcase, as mentioned earlier, if upper surface is suflicient-ly large,covers 41 and 42 can rest on surface 15 and need not support a load incantilever position.

Construction of storage device may be varied to accommodatetransparencies of a different size and shape. Additional releasablefastener elements and straps 43 or other means might be employed toreleasably secure top cover 41 to bottom cover 42. If such straps areplaced about the periphery of bottom cover 42, no flanges 50 and 51 arenecessary to retain the transparencies within stor age device 40.Flanges 50 and 51 may be omitted even Where only strap 43 and fastenermeans 45 are employed since the edges of the transparencies 46 willcontact strap 43 when they pivot about fastener means 45. However, forgreater protection of transparencies during transport and storage,flanges 50 and 51 are preferably included.

Numerous changes and modifications in the specific embodiments ofapparatus described above are contemplated and are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention. For example, different meansof aligning transparencies upon the staging assembly 22 may be employedsuch as pins extending upwardly along a margin of panel 23 and adaptedto match registration holes in the transparencies. Other types offastener elements might be substituted for fastener element 45 whichwould permit a similar type of movement of transparencies 46 about twoaxes. Such fastener elements are preferably releasable so that worntransparencies can be removed and new ones inserted in the storagedevice.

The surface of panel 23 is preferably elevated slightly above the uppersurface of support flanges 26 and 27. It has been found that thisfacilitates the display of transparencies in a flat condition since thecorner of the transparency overlying other transparencies in the areaadjacent fastener element 45 is not held above the level of theremainder of the transparency being displayed. Therefore, the visualdistortion due to inability to focus the projected image, which wouldotherwise occur, is not present. For this reason, it is preferred thatthe upper surface of panel 23 be supported above the upper surface ofthe support flanges 26 and 27 for a distance of at least as great as thethickness of one of the top or bottom covers 41 and 42, and the combinedthickness of the plurality of transparencies.

As mentioned above, a notable feature of the storage device of theinvention is the provision of fastener element 45 which allows atransparency 46 to be moved from a position overlying bottom cover 42selectively into a display position over panel 23 or into a position ofrest over top cover 41 resting on support flange 27. The order ofdisplay may be varied at will and the showing of certain transparenciesconveniently avoided if desired, with out change the fixed order oftransparencies in the storage device.

What is claimed is:

1. A transparency storage device adapted to protect transparenciesduring transport and storage and to facilitate display of transparenciesupon an overhead projector having a horizontal stage disposed above alight source, said device comprising:

a top cover and a bottom cover, said top and bottom 8 covers beingdisposed in superimposed spaced relationship,

a plurality of transparencies disposed between said top and bottomcovers; and

fastener means attaching said top cover, said bottom cover and saidtransparencies together in a manner permitting the movement of the topcover and each transparency about an axis lying in the plane of thetransparency as well as about an axis intersecting the plane of thetransparency, whereby said top cover may be overturned and moved out ofsuperimposed relationship with said bottom cover into a positionadjacent said horizontal stage, and said transparencies may beoverturned and pivoted about their point of attachment to the storagedevice so that they can be selectively placed either in a position onsaid horizontal stage in which they form an image or in a position ofrest on one of the covers of said storage device,

said top and bottom covers having flanges depending inwardly toward thespace between said covers when said covers are arranged in superimposingrelationship, said flanges extending at least partially along opposedportions of the periphery of said top and bottom covers on each side ofsaid fastener means, corresponding portions of said flanges dependingfrom said top and bottom covers being of a height sufficient to overlapone another so as to at least partially enclose the periphery of thespace between said top and bottom covers.

2. A transparency storage device adapted to protect transparenciesduring transport and storage and to facilitate display of transparenciesupon an overhead projector having a horizontal stage disposed above alight source, said device comprising:

a top cover and a bottom cover, said top and bottom covers beingdisposed in superimposed spaced relationship,

first fastener means for securing said top cover to said bottom cover atone point about the periphery of said bottom cover,

second fastener means for releasably securing said top cover to saidbottom cover at at least one point about the periphery of said bottomcover,

said first fastener means being adapted to secure said top cover to saidbottom cover while said top cover is overturned and moved out ofsuperimposed relationship with said bottom cover when said secondfastener means are released, and

a plurality of transparencies disposed between said top and bottomcovers, said transparencies being secured by said first fastener meansin a manner whereby said transparencies may be overturned and pivotedabout their point of attachment to the storage device so that they canbe selectively placed either in a position on said horizontal stage inwhich they form an image or in a position of rest on one of the coversof said storage device,

said top and bottom covers having flanges depending inwardly toward thespace between said covers when said covers are arranged in superimposingrelationship, said flanges extending at least partiall along opposedportions of the periphery of said top and bottom covers on each side ofsaid first fastener means, corresponding portions of said flangesdepending from said top and bottom covers being of a height sufficientto overlap one another so as to at least partially enclose the peripheryof the space between said top and bottom covers.

3. A transparency storage device according to claim 2, wherein saidsecond fastener means includes a strap extending from one of said coversto the other, and releasable attachment means securing said strap to oneof said covers.

4. A transparency storage device according to claim 2,

9 10 wherein said first fastener means comprises a hoop-shaped 2,802,2848/1957 Dreisonstok et a1. 353-99 X fastener element, both ends of whichare secured to 3,253,358 5/1966 Wright 40--106.1 said bottom cover, saidelement extending upwardly from 3,387,395 6/1968 Merrit et a1. 40102said bottom cover. 3,438,703 4/ 1969 Winnemann 353120 References cued 5HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,620 1/1910Payne 402-74 X 353 98 CL 1,371,102 3/1921 Lewis 40-102

